Retiring AFP chief downplays talks he is next DND head
AFP Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista/ AFP Public Affairs Office
MANILA, Philippines– Outgoing Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Emmanuel Bautista on Friday quelled as just rumors talks that he would be the next Defense Secretary.
“Hindi pwede (No). You cannot plan the decision of the President. That is, at best, a rumor. There’s no truth to that,” Bautista told state-owned People’s Television.
A report said that Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin might soon step down to make way for Bautista, who is retiring on July 18 just two days before he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Early this week, Gazmin said that he was not quitting his position.
“Let’s see what the future holds,” Bautista said when asked if he was offered the top defense post.
The retiring military chief also said he has no plans to run for public office.
His moniker “Manny Sundalo” has earned speculations that he will run for a government post. It was played up in social media by his subordinates and he was even named as a social media icon for helping a civilian in need to airlift her friends who survived a bus crash in Mt. Province. The civilian was supposedly clueless that she was exchanging text messages with the military chief.
Bautista said he will take a vacation after his retirement.
“I will take a vacation. It’s been a long time since I took a vacation,” he said.
He has served as military chief since January 2013.
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